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Thursday, November 22, 2012

M23 Demand that Goma Police and Soldiers Turn in Their Arms

The armed rebel group M23, in control of the eastern city of Goma since Tuesday, has called on any remaining police officers and soldiers from the national Congolese army to hand in their weapons and register with M23. A police officer explains why he decided to comply with the rebels’ demands.

On Wednesday morning, police officers and soldiers headed to a local football stadium to register with the M23 and turn in their weapons. This turned into a public meeting, to which hundreds of Goma residents showed up to hear announcements from the M23’s spokesperson, Colonel Vianney Kazarama.

According to the M23, more than 2,000 national army soldiers and 700 police officers have been “registered” since Tuesday. Our Observers went to the stadium and confirmed that M23 fighters were essentially collecting weapons from the stands. According to these Observers, many soldiers had already fled the city, dressed in civilian clothing to avoid being spotted and killed by the M23.

Made me think of this song, "Sheep" by Pink Floyd:

Harmlessly passing your time in the grassland awayOnly dimly aware of a certain unease in the airYou better watch outThere may be dogs aboutI've looked over Jordan and I have seenThings are not what they seem.

What do you get for pretending the danger's not realMeek and obedient you follow the leaderDown well trodden corridors into the valley of steelWhat a surprise!A look of terminal shock in your eyesNow things are really what they seemNo, this is no bad dream.